Shloka 28

धर्मरहस्योपदेशः

Dharma-rahasya Instruction: Vows, Truth, and Non-injury

Devanagari script

अभियाहि महाबाहो भीमसेनं महाबलम्‌

Transliteration

abhiyāhi mahābāho bhīmasenaṃ mahābalam

Translation

Sañjaya dit : «Avance, ô toi aux bras puissants, contre Bhīmasena, cet homme de force immense !» Dans l’atmosphère morale de la guerre de Kurukṣetra, ce vers sonne comme une injonction guerrière directe, pressant l’engagement décisif contre un adversaire redoutable, où courage et résolution sont requis malgré la tragique fatalité du meurtre entre parents.

Word by Word

• अभियाहि: go forth / advance (towards)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-या
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यम, एकवचन

• महाबाहो: O mighty-armed one
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाबाहु
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• भीमसेनम्: Bhimasena (Bhima)
• भीमसेनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीमसेन
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• महाबलम्: very strong / mighty
• महाबलम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīmasena (Bhīma)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the kṣatriya imperative of resolute action in battle: when confronted by a powerful adversary, one must not waver but meet the challenge directly. Ethically, it reflects the grim discipline of wartime duty—valor and steadfastness are demanded even when the broader conflict is morally tragic.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a battlefield exhortation: a warrior addressed as “mighty-armed” is urged to advance against Bhīma, renowned for immense physical power. The line marks a moment of tactical and psychological urging to engage a key Pāṇḍava champion.